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Vin Diesel Launches the First 'Riddick' TV Spot Full of Sci-Fi Action

When darkness falls, the battle begins. I can't help it, I'm incredibly excited for this even though I've heard the production was a mess, but that doesn't matter. This looks like the kind of Riddick throwback that Pitch Black was and I hope it's just as good, or at least just as entertaining. To keep fans excited leading into Comic-Con, Vin Diesel has posted the very first 30-second TV spot for Riddick, the latest sequel in the Chronicles of Riddick sci-fi franchise. It uses a lot of the same footage we've seen inrecent trailersalready, but there's still some awesome shots and sci-fi action I'm anxiously awaiting to see on the big screen. Enjoy!

Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick director David Twohy returns to write and direct Riddick. Betrayed by his own kind and left for dead on a desolate planet, Riddick fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction. Universal is releasing Riddick everywhere on September 6th this fall.

Reader Feedback - 25 Comments

Care to elaborate on the production being a mess Alex? Not being a smartass honestly just dont know and stuff like that scares me cause I have been looking forward to this for a long time.

Cody W on Jul 5, 2013

3

It's hard to explain in full, only one of those things I heard back when it was shooting. From friends in production and those on the set, I just heard it was a mess, but that's not uncommon for productions like these. Remember all the budgeting issues they went through? R vs PG-13? Stuff like that. I'm still hopeful Twohy pulled off something badass.

Yea, you posted a lot of stuff about the PG13 V R mess, hopefully that didnt cause a bunch of half ass reshoots and what not.

Cody W on Jul 5, 2013

5

From what I understand, the rating 'conflict' was sort of before production, and was with budget talks. I think they made certain financial concessions in order to get this film rated R and to keep more creative control. The budget is only $38 million and I think Diesel forfeit a lot of his up-front fee to get the film greenlit and to help get it done the way they wanted to do it.
There was also a problem with the soundstage or something where they were supposed to shoot, like right when production was set to start, and some things had to be cleared up and adjusted, and the schedule kind of had to be rearranged on the fly....something to that effect.

Chris Groves on Jul 6, 2013

6

Unfortunately looks Just like another pitch black which is a shame. They hit onto something with the storyline in the chronicles that could have easily went in better directions. How does this fit into the whole Riddick/chronicles storyline or does it?
Then again making assumptions on a film I haven't seen yet I am hoping they will surprise me and pull it out the hat.

Pilgrim_UK on Jul 5, 2013

7

I think they are playing up the association to Pitch Black over 'Chronicles' because Pitch Black is the favored film. The low budget required that it be a smaller scale story...so it being a 'handful of characters on X planet' type of setting isn't a shock. It's quite a different dynamic though...Riddick is all on his own for virtually all of the film battling against an antagonistic team of mercs...not quite how it went down in Pitch Black.
Due to the budget, they couldn't immediately take the story into the next logical progression after The Chronicles of Riddick...which would be 'The Underverse' and things like that.
Originally the plan was to start a trilogy with The Chronicles of Riddick, to have a sequel about the Underverse, and a final film about Furya. But now they are saying there is room for two more films after this one, dealing with the Underverse and Furya.
Essentially...this is more or less an 'interquel' between Chronicles and the two sequels they originally wanted to do. They are using this film to revive the character, and to be a stepping stone to return to the originally intended sequels.

Chris Groves on Jul 6, 2013

8

Hope those two other films come to fruition then as its a really likable character/universe. Thats hoping they make enough sheckles off this film to fund it. As much as we would like to see this franchise grow why do I get the feeling its got a touch of the Firefly about it. 😉

Pilgrim_UK on Jul 6, 2013

9

Yeah, it's definitely more of a cult series, and not really made for the realm of big budget blockbusters...but if the recent 'trilogy' of Fast and Furious films can turn that franchise from being virtually dead into Universal's biggest series...then maybe they can elevate the Riddick series by a comparable amount.
The Chronicles of Riddick grossed $57.7 million in 2004...adjusted for inflation, that would be about $73.8 million today. With a budget of only $38 million, if this film can have a domestic gross of $70+ million, and an international gross that is at least just as much...I would say we would be in pretty good shape to get another one.
And who knows, Diesel is certainly quite a big star thanks to Furious 6, maybe him returning to his mot memorable role will actually bring in a pretty large crowd, and the film will have a chance to break out.

Chris Groves on Jul 6, 2013

10

A pleasure talking with you Chris.

Pilgrim_UK on Jul 7, 2013

11

Thanks, likewise.

Chris Groves on Jul 8, 2013

12

I hope the other two films get made. I thought Pitch Black was good, but when I played the Riddick video games I really started to become a fan of the series.
They are excellent btw and highly recommended.

GK15 on Jul 29, 2013

13

Oh definitely, rare cases where Games spawned from films are actually great in their own right.

Chris Groves on Jul 29, 2013

14

I'm looking forward to more adventure with Riddick. That's what it is for me. He's Conan in space. The whole franchise is like fun episodic content.

Jacob Denton on Jul 5, 2013

15

...and just like with Conan only the first movie is really good...
O.k...the rest might be fun in a cheesy campy sorta way...Conan and Riddick...the problem with Riddick is that it's taking it self too seriously and just comes off really hammy...videogames are decent though...

Herp derp on Jul 5, 2013

16

Vin Diesel's voice would make a pretty sweet (animated) Batman voice.

DAVIDPD on Jul 5, 2013

17

Might live up to Pitch Black

Redkryptonite on Jul 5, 2013

18

..because rehashing the same story over and over again screams real quality...

negative view on Jul 5, 2013

19

That voice, ffs that voice over is sooooo horrible.

SeaSaint on Jul 5, 2013

20

Is Katey Sackhoff the female lead ? As a bounty hunter ?

Dominic on Jul 6, 2013

21

By default, I suppose...just because she is the top billing female cast-member...but that doesn't exactly make her a traditional 'female lead'...I don't think she is a romantic interest or a heroine in any real sense.

Chris Groves on Jul 6, 2013

22

I really hope Universal has enough faith in the film and Diesel's 'newly found star-power' to really market and promote this film well. Diesel and Twohy have said that there is room for two more sequels after this one...hopefully Universal sees this as a potential franchise launcher ala Fast and Furious...obviously these films won't be on THAT level box office wise...but still.
I just really want Universal to try and make the most out of this one.

Chris Groves on Jul 6, 2013

23

So Riddick is no longer the king of the Necromongers?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chronicles_of_Riddick
Vaako makes his move to strike, but Riddick, who in the fight has
figured out Lord Marshal's weakness, ends up killing him. Kyra dies, and
the Necromongers kneel before Riddick, their new leader.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riddick_%28film%29
Betrayed by the Necromongers and left for dead on a desolate planet,
Riddick fights for survival against alien predators and becomes more
powerful and dangerous than ever before. Soon bounty hunters from
throughout the galaxy descend on Riddick only to find themselves pawns
in his greater scheme for revenge. With his enemies right where he wants
them, Riddick unleashes a vicious attack of vengeance before returning
to his home planet of Furya to save it from destruction.

Private_Eyescream on Jul 6, 2013

24

This movie looks cool, you can definitely tell from the preview that its on a much smaller scale than chronicles was but its awesome just to see Richard B. Riddick back in action. I was one of those few who actually really liked Chronicles of Riddick and still think it gets a bad rap. Hopefully this one will be successful so that they may make another sequel that's on that larger more epic scale. "Your not afraid of the dark are you"